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“Pierce” She couldn’t hide her excitement when they pulled in front of the old-fashioned-style soda shop in the center of town The balloon lettering on the dusky pink awning over the building read SUSY’S SODA SHOPPE Identical font was scrawled across thein gold
“You like it?”
“I love it Oh, ht be the best trip I’ve ever been on” She unbuckled her seat belt and scrambled out of the car before he could walk around to open her door She ignored his laughter and drank in the beauty she spied through the large glass s of wooden shelves lined with candy and glass cases with treats of all shapes and sizes made her mouth water
“Wow, this is straight out of Willy Wonka” Pierce wrapped an arm around her waist, and she forced herself to relax and enjoy the closeness Pierce wasn’t soet into her pants She could trust hi fear a swift kick to the shins She’d allowed her mother’s death and her father’s response to it to scare her so row up and led Dressed in white shirts with black aprons over theht smiles
“Welcome to Susan’s Have you been here before?”
“No, we haven’t,” Deh her body Her giant sweet tooth had her practically drooling
“Okay, then let’s give you the rundown Candies are over there Baked itelass display cases you see here, and here And the estured toward the counter with a handful of stools A giant chalkboard with pristine white writing hung on the wall “All our flavors and combinations are listed there If you have any questions at all, please let us know”
“Thank you I think this’ll take a while” Pierce snickered
She nudged hi the lottery for me”
“I know” He winked
“Dessert for lunch? Brownie points” She tilted her head and studied him from beneath her lashes
“I’m in this to win you over All the stops are pulled out” He leaned down and brushed her lips The sweet sincerity thawed out her cool resolve Woet ice-creaainst her lips
She giggled, and he pulled away, leading her to the counter
In the end, they decided to try the banana-split sundae for two She watched with childlike glee as they scooped the hand-churned ice creaold etchings The toppings were ladled across and topped hipped cream and two cherries
“Here you go”